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Topic Review (Newest First)

03-05-2007 01:03 AM

Valiente

Another point is that the Atomic 4 is a physically lighter engine: I can just about carry one if you take the flywheel and the manifold off. Also, if you actually like to *sail* as opposed to motoring or motorsailing your sailboat, a gas engine is more appropriate than a diesel, which doesn't like to start in some cold, damp situations, and when started, prefers not to stop, i.e. you should really run a diesel at load until it is throughly warmed up. The Atomic 4 and the much rarer if similar marine gas inboards like the Vire 7 or the Palmer are low-compression engines that don't mind being switched on and off in ten-minute cycles, which is the usual time I find from sailing off the mooring and getting out into open water and motoring head to wind while I tweak the sails.

There is an extensive network of Atomic 4 diehards, plus the means to buy new blocks and completely rehabbed parts, plus aftermarket improvements. Lastly, they are simple to service. I took theatre instead of shop in high school due to the presence of easily persuaded girls in drama class, but I learned by rebuilding an Atomic 4 that I have delusions of mechanical aptitude. Now I've got a 52 horse diesel to play with, we'll see if I get chastised or not.

I do concur that diesels are more economical when doing a lot of distance, but with my Atomic 4, unless I go cruising down the lake, I have difficulty using ten gallons or 15 hours of running time a season.

03-04-2007 09:32 PM

sailingdog

Painting the deck a color other than white or a very light off-white is usually a serious mistake. The deck will heat up a lot due to the sunlight hitting it. On some boats, using a darker color paint will cause the fiberglass cloth to "print through" because the resin will cure more as it heats due to the sunlight.

As for the Atomic 4. There are plenty of boats out there with gasoline engines... the main issues with the Atomic 4 are: 1) Gasoline is a bit more dangerous and volatile than diesel as fuels go. 2) Diesel engines tend to be quite a bit more fuel efficient.

If the boat is properly setup, with a bilge blower and the engine well maintained, then the danger of gasoline as a fuel really isn't much of an issue. The Atomic 4 will require more fuel to get the boat the same distance as a similarly sized diesel, but the diesel would be noisier.

03-04-2007 01:07 PM

Idiens

The original / traditional colour of parts of my boat is olive, but most of it is off white. I have kept it that way to maintain the tradition. It's unusual, but that's it only benefit. The rescue services wish we would paint our boats a different colour from white, blue and green as those colours blend in well with a stormy sea. There are a few racers who are brave enough to go to bright red or yellow. But it's hardly discreet.

03-04-2007 12:53 PM

tigerregis

Good advise, also consider the internal heat differential before you paint. If you want to see a paint jhttp://www.latsandatts.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4422
View topic - hey richie!!! : Cruisers Forum : Latitudes & Attitudes Magazineob, check this out. It takes awhile, but is worth it. Sorry, not good on BM's so go there and click on svseriea

03-04-2007 11:58 AM

soul searcher

I,m not sure what you want to know about the paint job, you should paint the color you like not what some one else likes.
I will weigh in on the gas vs diesel issue though.
Repowering a boat is never easy and usually a very costly deal. You will most likely have to modify the engin beds ands mounts possibly your shaft or engine box. then you get into running fuel return lines, new guages, and it just goes on and on. It may end up costing more than the boat. Diesle is definatley a safer fuel and preferable to gas but not to the point where I would spend the dough unless I knew I was keeping the boat for the rest of my days. Personally I would just rebuild It If possible.

Matt

03-04-2007 11:58 AM

ianhlnd

JagsBch: That really sounds like an ugly paint combination, this question seems to resurface every now and then regarding color combinations, and men seem to be somewhat color blind. Ask your wife, girlfriend, sister or all three what they think of the colors. You'll probably get an honest reply.

Nothing wrong with the Atomic 4 if you can get it to run, just remember to vent before starting the engine. A diesel, even a used one would probably cost with installation as much as the boat, and won't add any value to it.

Just MHO but a boat with strange paint looses its market appeal when you plan to sell.

03-04-2007 09:57 AM

JagsBch

Need some advice

I was thinking about painting my 1966 29 Islander sort of this olive color but darker. I'd really like some advice on the topic. Someone offered to paint my deck and hull for my 20" Mirage. All I had to do was prep the deck by taping off all the wood and pay for the lift and bottom Job, he is supplying the paint. I think this is a pretty good deal since I only paid 2300 for the Mirage.

I was thinking about painting it teal, but this other painter named John said it would make me hurl when I was done. I am going to use the teal as an accent right below the deck where the fancy groove design is. Should I use the Aqua Guard water base paint on the bottom, I hear it is rated high? What color? Oh and should go with black or teal for the line separating the bottom from the rest of the hull?

Tab, the guy who is painting my boat wants the 20' Mirage for the annual Mug Race @ the St. Johns River. The boat needs a paint Job not to mention the rudder repairerd...

I keep hearing conflicting reports about the Atomic 4. Word is I can actually repair the 40 year old engine in the boat, I am hearing that the Atomic runs smoother, and it wont stink up your boat like a diesel. I was seriesly thinking about replacing the atomic with a diesel, but now I am wondering if it would be worth just getting the atomic back to running condition, or even buying a new atomic.

I am really loving the Islander and would appreciate any advice on the matter. Thanks, Beach.